Collapsible baggage-carrier for automobiles.



S. W. FRIEDMAN.

COLLAPSIBLE BAGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJI I916.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w v 1 1 Y Z l||| MB 1 1 IL Olllllillll L uu l I l l l 1 I ll 5 m. 3 H1%-; ii- :L 4 a w H ullllluvdvlllllllllll .IllllfLllllllJlllil I s. w.FRIEDMAN. COLLAPSIBLE BAGGAGE CARRIER-FOB AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ. I916.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

s. w. FRIEDMAN. COLL'APSIBLE BAGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-R1916.

' Patented J an. 28, I919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

, lIIlIllIIlIII/III III,

II II S. W. FRIEDMAN.

COLLAPSIBLE BAGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED Ana. 1. 1916.

Patented Jan. 28, l9l9.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 'HIII awoeu co'z edm extended bottom in plan.

se a

ion.

SAMUEL W. FRIEDMAN 02? TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA.

COLLAISIBLE BAGGAGE-CABBIEE FOB AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed August 7, 1916. Serial No. 118,587.

a collapsible trunk or baggage carrier which can be convenientlyattached at the back of automobiles and which can be opened out so as tocontain a large amount of baggage.

One feature of my invention relates to the construction of the trunkitself which is designed to be opened out partway for an average loadand to be further extended and enlarged to carry loads of maximumcapacity, and to this end its adjustable top and sides are provided withextension members which, when not in use, may be conveniently folded inand stored so as not to noticeably reduce the storage capacity of thetrunk or carrier and which when extended can be easily and quicklyconnected up to the front so as to enable the trunk to be closed and tocarry its load without rattling or objectionable noise.

Another feature of my invention relates to the convenient manner inwhich the trunk can'be folded into very compact form when carried empty.

My-invention also comprises the various novel details of constructionand arrangements of parts, which in their preferred em bodiments onlyare hereinafter more particularlydescribed by reference to theaccompanymg drawings which form a part of this specification, and inwhich Figure 1 is a front elevation detached of .the trunk or carrier infully extended position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1 with the cover parts broken away toshow the Fig.3 is an end elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the trunk collapsed and its hanger in perspective.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the trunk partly opened out to what maybe termed its normal size.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the center of the collapsedtrunk.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views she-wing the corner joints as taken onthe line 7-7 of Fig. 5, and 88 of Fig. 3, respectively. I Fig. 9 is asectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a detail view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 1111 of Fig. 2, and showing theprotecting canvas strip for the top joint.

Fig. 12 is a detailview of the fastening means for the side and endmembers.

Fig. 13 illustrates the hanger parts in side elevation- Figs. 14 and 15are plan'and side elevae tions of the bottom hanger attachment.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 13. v

Figs. 17 and 18 are plan and elevation views of the bottom hangermemberv Fig. 19 illustrates the joint between the extension side and topmembers.

Fig. 20 illustrates the wedge as applied to holding the extension bottommember in position to form part of the front.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to any standard type ofautomobile 1, having on each side near the top of its back brackets 2forming the rear supports for the top. I attach to the bottom of the cara pair of brackets 3 having perforated lugs 4 to receive screws or boltsby which the bracket is attached to the car and having spacedunderhanging ribs 5 between which at their outer end is a cross Webbcarrying an upstanding threaded bolt 7. The bottomhanger members Shaveeach an angled head 9 at one end which is adapted to be inserted betweenthe webs 5 and to engage under their respective brackets while the bodyportions of the members 8 rest on the webs 6 and are perforated topermit the bolts 7 to pass up therethrough and receive a nut to securethe members 8 to the hangers. These members 8 are provided with areinforcing bottom rib 10.which is interrupted near its outer end toform a notch 11 opposite a bolt hole 12. The upper or supporting members13 of the hanger are formed by metal straps having their lower endsinturned at 14 to form a bottom horizontal end, each of which has aU-shaped seat 15 formed therein and adapted to receive the member 8opposite the notch 11. and to be made fast thereto with thetop edge ofthe ends 1% siimding flush with the top of the 8, in each seat 15 isprovided a hole registering with the hole 12 .in the illmlllbfilf' 8.The main. body portions of the straps 1 5 inciine upwardly and towardthe brackets A, and at their upper ends are given aquerter twisfi; andbent over at 16 to form an apex-hired lug edapied to be passed over theelireeded shanks of the brackets 2 end to be secured thereto by bolts17. Widen the hanger members are assembled, as seen in Fi a the members8 and 71 i: form the bottom suppofis' while the upright members 13 formside E taming members for the trrmk. T- e deteii construction of thehanger by reason of divisions]. requirements forms no part of my presentinvention and all claims relating thereto have been "withdrawn in yiewof divisional requirements. 1

The truck or cerrier itself may be formed of suitable material. which isli 'ht and possesses great strength. it may no of also I minum or ofserious mefieriels used male ing tracks is shown the carrier is formedof Wood with suitable metal reinforcementsat its corner joints end alongits edges. The trunk comprises etc. upright beck portion 18 havingconnecied to iis four marginal edges narrow striys =19 which form withthe osck e shallow b01-ill6 member which opens to the rear. The cornerjoints of these box-like members ere ell protected by bent metal plates2) which strongly reinforce 'sne some. Theorem sides 21 of the trunk arepreferably rectangular in shape emd are connected by hinges Zilto theside edges, of the back 18 in position to swine outwardly against; andbe braced by the side strips 19' (see Fig. 9 These sides 91 areads-pied- '0 fold between the top bosiqom strips 19, see Fig. 5. To theouter edge oithe top strip 19 I hinge the main to 28 which carries atits free end hesp d4: pivoted to an angled metal smoker; 2.5 Wiiicnprojects be low the imderi'ecc of the top. 'Tie the outer edge of thebottom strip 19 l. pivot the main hottommcmber 26;, using; hinges 27placed that when the bottom assumes horizontal position it will elvutagainst iililo outer edge of the bottom strip 1% mad be portlysopoortecl thereby. The looetom 1% is rectengw lair-end is of same-sizeas the top member At the outer edge of the lootiom member 9-6 ere hingeswhich connect thereto on extension member 29 which is, in mm, connectedby hinges 30 to the main fi'ront'inemberfili having o upper 6! her endstepies 32. When member 2 form, an extension of the front 31, as in Fig.5, the extended front has the-some insight as the back 18." The bottom26 on each side earries reinforcing straps 83 through which projectdepending screw bolts 34: iedepted to I be passed through the holes 195in the messes hen er and connect the hanger members and ,i;l1e ottcmsecurely together. On the inside of the extension member 29 and thefrom: 31

are mounted loops or straps 35, arranged in elmmgpmrs a'nd adopted toreceive in each pair a. V stron steel wedge bar 36 which crosses-thehinge ioint between the parts and holds them ri idly in, the same planeto form the extends front. The box as thus described is adapted to formthe normal or half capacity carrier rind is operated as follows; Thelmsps' 24: (Fig 4) are unlatched :from the staples 37 on the bottom 26,see Fig. 6 and the top and bottom members are opened out on their hinges27 and 38, respect-ively, after which the sides 21 are swung out, toposition at right angles to the.

back. The bottom bolts 34: are made fast, to the hSX-IX 'QI irons andthe extended front formed 16 the ports 29, and 31' is then read to stepes 32 to the hesps 24:, seeFig. 5, thus closing the box. In order toprevent 't-he rain or Water getting into the, box, the side and frontedgesiof its top 23 are reinforced by motel flanged strips 39 whichextend far enough below to substantially overlap the edges-of the sidesand front of the trunk. In like manner the, side edges of the memlosrs29, 31 are provided with reinforcing flanged sirips so; see Fig. 7,which are pro vided with ma. ofiset; shoi'ilder to form with the sideedges of the front 31 a notch 41. At the outer edge of the'snoulder isan in: turned flange 4%, the shoulder and flange iorming an. angularseat to receive and over.- lep the eiilges of the sides 21. To make thisletter joint more secure against leakage a rubber strip 42, see Fig. 12,may be mounted along the front. edges of the sides 21 and adapted toengage under the flanges The front edge of each side 21 carries twoscrews 43 which are adaptedto pass through openings 4% in'the members29, 31,,and re; ceive wing nuts 45 which serve'the purpose of stronglyand eiiectivel ;J securin the from and side members of the o2; togcgmer.j,

Under certain conditions it is desirable increase the capacity of thetrunk or csrrior and to this end I connect to each side a metalextension side member 46 by mesins of hinges 47, which members when swlmoutwardly in line with -the sides 21ywi increase the width of the trunkso that on removing the Wedge bars 36 andletting the extension member 29drop to horizontal-position, the front ed es of the extension sides 46will be receive in the 5001(813541 atihe. side edges of the front 31 andmake a secure joint therewith. Under these conditions the wedge bars 36are shifted and inserted through the straps 35 on the extensionmembergil and under straps 35 on the bottom 26, f1se-e Fig. 9, thusforming an extension bottom and sewing to cooperate with the swungup andsecured by its neonate hin es28 insupporting the member 29 from theottom 26. A top extension member 48 is hinged near the outerend of thetop 23 and adapted to fold up under the top and be held if! by catches49 when not in service. This extension top carries-hasps 50 and whenswung down, as shown'iri Fig. 3, these has'ps engage the staples-32 andsecure the front 31 makes. secure joint along the meeting edges of theextension sides 46 and the extension .top 48, I provide the latter, asshown in Fig;

19, with a narrow downturncd flange 51 at each side and along the topedge of each extension side 46 I attach a strap 52 which at its upperend is oifset to receive a flange 51 between it and the side 46. Thisarrangement braces the sides to the top and gives a water-proof joint.-To protect the joint at the hinge 38 between the top strip 19 and thetop 23, I provide a strip of canvas 53 which extends for a shortdistance down the back 18 and-over the top member 19 and under thereinforcing strip 20 for the latter with its free end projecting fromunder the strap and provided with eyelets adapted to fasten over thebuttons 54 at each end of the veniently set in place an hangers andopened out to top 23, which as shown in Fig. 11 has an edge reinforcingstrap 55. It will be noted that the hinge 38 is attached to beveledfaces which permit the top to swing down only tovertical position.

My hanger attachments can be readilg applied to and removed from the caran the trunk or carrier can be uickly and consecured in the 've its halfor full capacity storage, in which positions it can be quickly securedby the hasps or the thumb. nuts 45 and bolts 34, it being noted that Isecure the back of the trunk to the hanger straps 13 by bolts 56. Thesebolts 56 remain permanently attached as l'o as the carrier is on thehanger. It fol ows therefore that to open out my trunk or carrier it isonly necessary to make fast the two bolts 34, the four thumb nuts 4.5and to at tach the hasps-59 or 24- to the staples 32 as the case "maybe-It will be'-,1mderstood that I have de- 1 scribed in detail only what Iregard as the preferred embodiment of my invention and that the same maybe modified in its detailed construction without departing from myinvention. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let- 'ters Patent, is

1. The combination with an automobile having top brackets and bracketsconnected to its bottom, of horizontal members detachably mounted in thebottom brackets, hanger members detachably suspended from the topbrackets and having their lower ends bent inwardly and connected to theouter end of the horizontal members a collapsible trunk to the outer endof said extension mem r,-

an extension side hinged to each side memher and an extension top hingedto said top member, said bottom extension member forminj part ofthefront when the extension si e and top members are not used, and meanstoconnect the foldable members in expanded position, substantially asdescribed. 3. A- trunk comprising a back; sides, to and bottom membershinged to the back an adapted to collapse, :1 front, an inter osedmember hinged to the bottom and ront, means to enga e and hold saidmember in a plane with eit ier the bottom or the front, and membersadapted to extend beyond the sides and top to engage the front when saidmember is held rigidly in a plane with and forms an extension of thebottom.

4. A collapsible trunk comprising a back; side and bottom membershingedly connected to said back; a front member; ingcd means to connectsaid front and bottom memhere; an extension member forming part of thehinged means connectin the bottom and front members and adapts tensionpart of either; staples connected to the front and to said bottommember; a top hinged to the back and. having an end extension member hined thereto: hasps carried by the top an its extension member and adaptedto engage either set of staples: and extension members on the sidesadapted to be used when the first mentioned extension member forms apart of the 'bottom, substantially as described.

5. In a collapsible trunk; a back, side members hinged to the back, atop, a metal extension member hinged to the outer edge of the top andadapted to fold outwardly, downturned flanges at the side edges of saidtop extension member, a bottom, an extension bottom member hingedthereto, said top and bottom being hin edly connected to said back, afront hinge to the extension bottom member, an extension side memberconnected to each main side member, means to connect the extensionbottom member and the front to the ends of the main side members whenthe trunk is partway expanded, end flanges on the front to interlockwith the extension sides when the extension botto form an extom memberlies horizontal. and top straps the downturnefl side flang'os of thoanti-1m sion top,

fi. In a collapsible trunk, a back, bot

inner Walls of, the top anci. sides and; adapted to swing outwardly, thefrom comprising a "main section and a bottom auction hinged thereto andadapted to fold down and form a bottom extenslon member, smd topQXiZGZ): slon member bemg downwardly znchneci to "engage the mainfrontsection whom its hotmsormasa the onto-21531211 si as being slopedto correspond inoiimtion of the extension 1220p, angiesdoinfiension'plates along the side odgos of tho main front section and.ofiset an. o; main aoat for the trunk sides, means to SSGGIHPB thefarunkmembers 1n expanded *posmon,

tom m-so tion lies horizontal, the topedges of 15 llerefrom form a seatfor the extension 20 In mstimony whereof I afix my' sigxigtuue.' SAMUELW. FRIEDMIAIL Witness:

Joanna: SAKS.

